US: Southwest Airlines to extend Boeing 737 MAX grounded through October

Event

Southwest Airlines announced on Tuesday, July 2, that it would keep its Boeing 737 MAX fleet grounded beyond Tuesday, October 1, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it found a potential risk Boeing must address. The grounded plane has caused the airline to cancel an estimated 115 daily flights. The FAA predicts the new issue, revealed during simulation sessions, will require several months of work for Boeing to address the concern. This has caused Southwest to extend the grounding period. The FAA originally expected the 737 MAX to return to service in August before the new issue was identified.

Context

Boeing and various international aviation authorities have recommended the temporary suspension of all Model 737 MAX aircraft worldwide on Wednesday, March 13 after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on Sunday, March 10, which killed all 157 people onboard a Boeing Model 737 MAX 8. All Boeing Model 737 MAX aircraft have been grounded worldwide.

Advice

Individuals traveling with Southwest Airlines over the next several months are advised to confirm their flight reservations.